June 7, 1999
GLOBAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEERSThe pilot group of Global Justice Volunteers (young adults aged 18 25) is now ready for assignment at three sites: two in the Philippines and one in Brazil. The program was initiated by the General Board of Global Ministries and the Women's Division's Committee on International Ministries with Women, Children, and Youth. The purpose of the program is to enable a group of young adults to have short-term mission experiences living and learning alongside people who work on human rights, economic development, environmental action, youth advocacy, and other issues. In the Philippines, the volunteers will work on community development and organizing and on human rights issues. In Brazil, the group will work at a project with street children. Criteria for volunteers include being within the age range of 18 25, having completed high school and at least one year of work or college, and making a commitment to live and work in grassroots communities for a term of two to twelve months. Volunteer sites must be community groups, nongovernmental organizations, or church-related bodies committed to global justice issues. Examples of sites under consideration for 1999 are Bethune Center, Hong Kong; National Council of Churches in the Philippines; Educacion Popular en Salud, Chile; Projecto Meni¤os e Meni¤as de Rua, Brazil; and Preaching Reconciliation to Youth, Liberia. The term for the fall of 1999 is October 10 to December 15. Applications are due July 15. Contact: Tamara Walker or Bud Heckman, GBGM, Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115; phone 212-870-3825; e-mail twalker@gbgm-umc.org. UNITED METHODIST FELLOWSHIP OF HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEERSThe UMF/HCV is a fellowship designed to invite health care professionals and other individuals to nurture and witness to their Christian faith through ministries of healing of body, mind, and spirit, as servants of Christ providing health care to a world in need. The heart of this organization is a board formed of two members from each jurisdiction. Ten years of leadership were provided by the Medical Fellowship of the Southeastern Jurisdiction, and their concept was expanded to the national level to form UMF/HCV. The organization does not replace any existing jurisdictional or conference organizations. Goals adopted include strengthening jurisdictional relationships, acquiring 1,000 new members by the year 2000, and planning for a national rally in the year 2001. UMF/HCV intends to build a comprehensive data base listing health care teams and their activities, potential team members, and available sites throughout the world. It will provide leadership development training, as well as information on ways of obtaining needed supplies and equipment. The organization held a health care seminar in Bolivia for 40 participants earlier this year. The attendees worked with local people, listened to their needs, and explored treatments used locally. Emphasis was on community-based healthcare and how to prevent illness. LIBERIA UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSIONThe LUMVIM program has the task of developing a plan to help rebuild what was destroyed during the seven-year civil war in that country. About 263 local churches, 45 schools, and 3 clinics were seriously damaged. The Liberia Annual Conference elected a full-time VIM coordinator and is partnering with Mission Volunteers. Training of 16 of the 17 district LUMVIM coordinators was conducted in Monrovia over a three-day period. Then three regional training sessions were held for the district committee members. A total of 77 persons attended the session in March 1999. So far, a calendar of events for the rest of the year has been drafted and a proposal for farming projects to support district projects is being developed. As reports come in from the districts, project sites will be selected. Mission Volunteers is currently assisting with the purchase of chain saws and block making machines for rebuilding projects. Briefing summaries are posted each week on the GBGM web page. The summary from June 2 may be found at gbgm-umc.org/inconfmisbr.html. |
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The next GBGM briefing will be held on June 15 and following that the staff briefings will be in recess until September.